culture

Last week, Faye told me about her discussion with some of our office friends on statements opening with “I don’t mean to be (racist/offensive/whatever)”, which ironically sets the tone for whatever sentiment you did not want to come across. With our recently concluded year-end party (a.k.a. Christmas party), our lovely colleagues had chosen bohemian as this year’s theme. A year ago, it was supposedly The Roaring Twenties, which I thought was offensive and tacky in the midst of Yolanda’s destruction in Central Visayas. Good thing it did not push through, which was a good call. We also had a fashion ball (where I wore a T-shirt LOL), a masquerade, a Filipiniana and some other themes I already forgot.

I already had an ominous feeling for this Saturday’s event. Given that its bohemian, people will most likely wear festival clothing for the event, and it won’t be complete without the presence of a headdress. I have read an article written by ‘Outstanding Warbonnet’ from The Prague Review last September on ‘How not to wear a warbonnet‘ after the annual cheerleading competition that I had watched. Just as we thought that the event would conclude without any headdress in sight, ‘lo and behold, several of these popped from thin air just in time for the obligatory fashion show.

Leaving Estosan Hotel at around 7:30 PM, we went to our office in Cotabato City for a briefing of the activities of the day ahead. Seeing the situation in Cotabato City and Maguindanao during the daylight made the situation clear: it was not a surprise to see checkpoints and armed soldiers in every kilometer of the road. It was no good pretending that it did not make me feel uneasy. And as we were going to Maguindanao, it made me more worried. It was no secret that the mere mention of “Maguindanao” in mainstream media invokes images of the infamous Maguindanao Massacre. But as we have seen, Maguindanao is more than just a place that should be associated with such a heinous incident.

Housemates Dormitel was just a hop, skip and a pirouette away from our Sub-Office in Davao, so it was a surprise that we had to drive that short distance. =P We conducted two interviews with our colleagues, but the most tiring one was the short clips of everyone working in Davao. Rob and I had an idea of splicing several shots of our colleagues, but I can only imagine how bloody the editing job could be. Anyway, I will definitely be up for it, and I am still thankful that I get to do these things and have a creative outlet on a paying job. =D

I brought two pair of Red Wing boots with me, but I did not have a chance to use the brown 8875s. It was a pity but I guess it would have been severely abused from all the terrain mishaps that has been happening to us. I was trying to get B rolls from every place as I can, with my humble camera and I was hoping that my shaky hand would not make these clips unusable. I know that I should have bought a portable, mini-tripod to make my life easier, but alas, I was too stingy at that inconvenient time.

Say hello to a new day! I have brought along almost all shortsleeves polo with me but I don’t remember wearing one since bringing them. As it is almost raining the whole week, the prospect of sweating profusely has significantly reduced. Another colorblind moment, though, as I thought this was a white polo with gray stripes, but apparently, it was pink in some other color. Oh well. I would never know about it not until I commented that Mon and I were both wearing white polos and looked like high school students. I was evidently wrong.